PITTSBURGH, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA) today announced the election of William M. Lambert to the position of Chairman, succeeding John T. Ryan III, who will continue as a Director of the company. Mr. Lambert, 57, is the fifth chairman of the 100-year-old Pittsburgh-based company – the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people's health and safety, and facility infrastructures. Mr. Lambert became an MSA director in 2007 and was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in May, 2008. He will continue in his role as MSA's President and CEO.
"I want to thank and recognize John T. Ryan III for his leadership, integrity and governance over the past 24 years, as well as his commitment to the business and mission of MSA," Mr. Lambert said. Mr. Ryan, who joined the company in 1969, became a director of MSA in 1981 and was elected chairman in 1991.
As President, Chairman and CEO, Mr. Lambert will continue to drive the future performance of the company. "Our strategic vision is built around achieving leadership positions in the core product lines and geographical and vertical markets MSA serves around the world," Mr. Lambert said. "To achieve that vision, our focus is on advancing our core product business, optimizing our presence in emerging markets, and achieving operational excellence in every MSA manufacturing plant and function around the world. Those are the pillars of our strategy, and by focusing on these areas I am confident MSA can deliver consistently strong financial growth and performance in the years to come, all while providing our customers with an exceptional user experience unmatched in the safety industry."
Mr. Lambert joined MSA in 1981 as a design engineer where he developed and received a patent on the Quick-Fill® breathing apparatus accessory, an important MSA product to this day. Over his 34-year career with the company, he has served in a variety of capacities of increasing responsibility.
Mr. Lambert received a master's degree in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University in 1990 and a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University in 1980.
Mr. Lambert is a past chairman of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) of Arlington, Va. He served on that board from 2002 to 2011. Mr. Lambert also is on the Board of Trustees of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), and serves as Chairman of the Senator John Heinz History Center of Western Pennsylvania, President of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and as a director of the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
About MSA
Established in 1914, MSA Safety Incorporated is the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures. Many MSA products integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in a broad range of markets, including the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, the fire service, the construction industry, mining and the military. The company's core products include self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems, portable gas detection instruments, industrial head protection, fire and rescue helmets and fall protection devices. With 2014 revenues of $1.1 billion, MSA employs approximately 5,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered north of Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township, Pa., and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With more than 40 international locations, MSA realizes approximately half of its revenue from outside North America. For more information visit MSA's website at www.MSAsafety.com.
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SOURCE MSA
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